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Schools

East Farms School Extends Helping Hands

Wolf Fund provides support for students and families in need.

It's an unfortunate fact that even a town as blessed as Farmington is not immune to hard times, and some families occasionally struggle for life's necessities.

At East Farms School, these needs are being addressed by members of the P.T.O.'s Outreach Committee, who operate the Wolf Fund, named for the school's mascot, to provide help to East Farms students and families in need.

"Sometimes it's just a matter of having cereal bars on hand for a student who hasn't had breakfast," said Fund Chairperson Karen Mastella. "But we're also prepared to give grocery gift cards to parents who need help feeding their families." 

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The school purchases the gift cards from Stop 'n' Shop and Big Y, and some cards are contributed by generous donors. The supermarkets then donate part of the cash proceeds from  the grocery sale back to the Wolf Fund. Some families receive clothing or holiday gifts, depending on their needs.

School Principal Renee St. Hilaire points out that the Wolf Fund has even provided some medical assistance for uninsured East Farms families. 

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"We've had instances where the fund has made a significant difference in a family's situation - it can be life-changing," she said. "Thanks to the Wolf Fund we were able to provide financial support for his medical treatment, and he's made real progress. This is the kind of case that warms my heart."

There's an extensive process to select who will receive the fund's support. 

"We work really hard to determine need," St. Hilaire said. A teacher might recognize that one of his or her students is in need, or the school's social worker, Cindy Leach, might receive a request from a parent. Each case is proposed to the P.T.O. board members, who then determine if the Wolf Fund can help. Throughout this process the names of all potential recipients remain anonymous to protect their privacy.

"Our biggest challenge is communicating to all our families that this resource is available to them," Mastella said. The fund is publicized through teachers' announcements and the P.T.O. newsletters.

Donations for the Wolf Fund can take many forms. When families come to play "Halloween Bingo" in October, for example, they're asked to bring cereal bars and snacks for the teachers to keep on hand. Grocery gift cards, and of course, cash, are always welcome. 

"We consider the Wolf Fund an open call for anyone who can help," St. Hilaire said. And especially in this season of giving, "a donation to the Wolf Fund is a wonderful way to honor a special person," Mastella said.

Anyone wishing to donate to the Wolf Fund or seeking assistance may contact Karen Mastella (karenmastella@mac.com) or Cindy Leach (leachc@fpsct.org).

 

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